A HAPPY, LONG LIFE
FOR YOUR WESTIE
(AND MORE)
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Dr. Ellin Grossman
with Teaspoon
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February
19, 2008 - We are grateful to Drs. Bob and Ellin Grossman and Teaspoon for holding our club meeting at their beautiful, spacious
home. Thanks also to co-host Mellodee White who assisted with providing refreshments
for everyone. This was a special meeting because we had two experienced veterinarians
as our speakers.
Dr. Kay McGuire brought us
up to date on Westie Foundation news and encouraged everyone to visit that organization's website at www.westiefoundation.org to learn more about current research projects and Westie health issues.
Dr. McGuire also gave a brief
introduction to the AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program. The club plans to
hold training sessions for members and will host a CGC test later in the year.
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Guest Speaker Nancy Bolduc, DVM |
Our guest speaker was Dr.
Nancy Bolduc, co-owner of River Oaks Animal
Hospital, who gave a presentation on "A Long and Happy Life for Westies
through Preventive Care and Current Therapies." Dr. Bolduc stressed that many
of the things that are important for our own health are also important for the health of our Westies. Like us, not every Westie ages the same; one eleven-year-old Westie will not necessarily be in the same
physical condition as another eleven-year-old Westie, so different levels of care will be needed. One of the things that will affect our Westies as they age is their diet.
A tremendous amount of research has been done on canine nutrition, providing us with a wide range of dog food
choices. Some of the ingredients we should consider when selecting a senior diet are lower sodium, phosphorus and
protein levels and increased fiber content. Dr. Bolduc said that our dog's weight
is another factor that could make a big difference in our dog's life span and comfort.
Dr. Bolduc mentioned one particular study using Golden Retrievers, which found that weight maintenance played
a significant part in a dog's longevity. The study revealed that Goldens who
were consistently maintained at an appropriate weight from puppy to senior years lived longer. To maintain a proper
weight on our dogs, one of the things we need to do is control portion sizes, including treats. Our dog's activity level also plays a big part in our dog's overall health picture. Activity in general, and exercise in particular, will add to the quality of our dogs' lives. Even for an older dog, a moderate level of activity will be beneficial. Dr. Bolduc cautioned, however, that with
our Westies tending to be stoic, we need to make sure they do not overdo it. In
her practice, Dr. Bolduc has observed that her longest lived patients tend to be the ones who walk every day with their owners.
Regular check-ups along with good dental hygiene should be included in the health maintenance
plan for our dogs, and Dr. Bolduc is a big proponent of lab testing for seniors as part of general preventive
care. A question was raised about the effectiveness of Chondroitin for joint health in a senior Westie diet. Dr.
Bolduc recommended using Cosequin, which is a glucosamine chondroitin sulfate for pets and she suggested a four to six week
trial to determine whether it is going to work for your Westie (it does not work for every Westie). In closing, Dr. Bolduc advised keeping a watchful eye for behavioral changes that might be
a clue to a health issue (e.g., urinating more frequently or acting like he does not see as well) and mentioning these things
to your vet. She stressed the importance of providing feedback to our vets because it helps
our vets to know when their recommendations to resolve issues are working as anticipated.
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